Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-20

SOtWSIO fOJdSc, ouo nOeS IuOuSu SHC
had ceased to write, in sheer despair OF
she knew not what, she never failed to
scan the papers for military news from
India, and latterly from Burmah, and had
seen full notices Of the departure of the
Bengal column to join the army OF Gen
eral Prenderg.st.
Thep.came tidings Of the capture OF
Minhla, the first brief dispatch received
at the India Office from HIS Excellency,
the Viceroy, to the effect that the barrier
part OF the river had been captured, after
three hours conflict, with thirteen guns:
that "the town had been accidentally
burned down; that & steam launch had
been capsized and that the casualties
would follow"
The casualties!
VIII t q bitter psng those-two words
gave her heart! But how hopefully and
proudly it beat when, day Or two after,
came fuller details, that included g notice
of how gallantlY Captain Montague
Lonsdale, V. e., Con special service with
the Twelfth Native Infantry had recon
noitered the enemy's works within rifle
shot, and ct the head of detachment had
stormed, at the point of the bsyonet, 8
fortified villsge on the right flank OF the
position. Tidings with which, in q
tamult Of thought, she rushed to the
Vicarage, to share with her friend and
gossip, little Amy Brendon.
Amy had become her own joyous, active
and bright self again, with her thick,
ripping hair and dark, laughing eyes.
With renewed lightness of spirits, her
naturally splendid health had come back
to her, and among her fathers old
Pensioners she had, as formerly, plenty
OF occupation whereby to kill the time till
Horace Musgrave should return to
Stokencross, as his letters-though his
illness was protracted-noW assured her
he was hourly longing to do.
His kinsman's wife-the same kinsman
whose initials had created such confus-
ion and consternation-the fair and
firty Hllda, who had reduced the art of
coquetry tC science, as Sher spouse WAS
fast discovering now, had also assured
her that Horace was recovering certainly,
but slowly, che had got such deuce Of
shaking and pounding in that awful spill
at the hurdle races" thus
more than, the brief ten days
he had allotted to himself
would have to elspse ere he was fairly on
his legs agsin, and fit for duty or travel
ling; 80, meanwhile, the marriage was
still delsyed-a fact ominous of disaster,
as all old ladies slleged-and Reginald
Talbot, sooth to say, cared not how long
the delay was; yet thought, meanwhile,
that his emotions on the subject were
somewhat akin to those OF the cog in the
manger.
Then Amy, in the excess of her revul-
sion OF spirits, after discovering that her
lover was true, was tempted to be more
than usually kind and elusive in her besr-
ing to the unfortunate young sailor, when
she met him abroad in his wheel chair,
among the shady lanes nesr the hall, and
this new manner of hers, all unconscious
as she was OF it, seemed but to tsntaliza
and torture-though it did not deceive
him.
"Ah," said her mother, as one day,
with fond and caresSing eyes, she
watched Amy, while the latter stood be
fore a mirror over the mantel-board,
fitting her piqusnt hat backwards and
forward to suit the light and sh.dOw,se r
of her rich, sofg curlf
fringe, ''I think the greatest veIstion 81
girl can have is to be clergymSh's wifeFI
and when trained yop, my little one, uETi
for it-or thought did"
"Yes, thought you did, mamma; buta
Hussar came, and there was an end of the
interrupted the old vicafi
The small, but happy, circle at the VI
Garage, shared to the full the satisfaction
and pleasure which Melanie had at last
even through the prosaic medium of ths
public prints, heard of her fance, and thsal
nd hic cOnraup had Won
OF the non arrival of letters in answer
to those sent, mail after mail, by Melanie,
Aunt ChilliDgton, when occasion offered |
and Uncle Grimshaw in particular, never
ceased to make the most in urging upon
her the folly of deeming that her engage
ment still existed, and to expatiate, as
usual, on the advantages offered by the |
proposal of Sir Brisco; and once, when |
compelled to listen to all that her uncle |
could say. gust of grief, dismay, almost
shame, but certainly modification, shook
the unhappy girl.
"Lonsdsle," said Uncle Grimshsw,
"knows, no doubt, The girl
I left behind me- and has ridden-or
rather sailed away-in this instance, as in
many others, and thought no more about
her. It is way they have in the army. l
believe; there, sentimentality is wisely
deemed en- absurdity."
After pause, during which he eyed her
grimly, her uncle said:
"Ican never cease to condemn enough
the selfshness of this fellow, who lured
you into promise to wait for him-him.
and what more What have you
Gained ?"
"The love of a good and brave man."
replied Melanie.
Sand that is all you think Of Will
this love paw rent and taxes and trades
mems bills? So, how about money-the
sinews of man, as your precious Lonsdale
will no DOUBT call it 2"
Her shoulders heaved; her face was
turned from him and buried in the back
of an easy chair, and one arm, white as
snow and temptingly revealed by loose
sleeve, an arm Of rarest and tempting
form, rested in relief upon dark velvet
cushion; but he eyed her pitilessly-her
beauty had no effect on him-wlth tri |
umphant twinkle in his sharp pale eyes,
while rasping his side tufts, which looked
like Satanic horns, especially when ad-
ded to the expression Of his Saturnine
Vissge.
But, srtfully ceasing to taunt now, he
sought to soothe, apparently.
"Thus it is that I am anxious, more
than ever anxious, Melanie," he con-
tinued, f'to see you comfortably, happily
and even splendidly married-fer the
sake of y ur brothers as well as yourself.
My means are limited, my life uncertain;
-